EAA/ANN AirVenture Innovation Preview

Older Twinjet May Benefit From A350XWB Delays

While it's undeniable European
planemaker Airbus has seen its share of bad press lately -- with
delays to its A380 superjumbo, and the resulting financial crisis
at the planemaker and parent company EADS, leading to the
shedding of 10,000 Airbus jobs -- the manufacturer hasn't taken the
news lying down.

In fact, Airbus has had its share of triumphs of late, as well,
including two big impending orders for its upcoming A350XWB. One of
the enticements Airbus is offering A350 customers is the
opportunity to lease A330 widebodies -- spiritual predecessor to
the more advanced A350XWB -- as holdovers until the newer plane is
available for delivery in 2013. That policy not only may serve to
boost A350 sales... it helps the bottom line on the A330, as
well.

This week, Airbus celebrated the delivery of the 800th A330-A340
family aircraft, as Qatar Airways received an A330-200. Airbus also
announced a ramp-up in production for the widebody twinjet -- and,
to a lesser extent, its less-popular four-engine cousin -- from
seven planes and month to nine by the middle of 2009.

"The A330/A340 family of aircraft continues to achieve
tremendous success," said Airbus COO John Leahy. "The aircraft
family is the first to break the 1000 order mark from more than 85
operators in this market segment. The continued success of this
family of aircraft in the market place leads us to increase
production rates."

This delivery also marked a milestone in the long relationship
between Airbus and Qatar Airways, which operates a fleet of 52
Airbus planes, including 29 A330/A340 passenger aircraft. As ANN reported earlier this
week, Qatar is also rumored to be considering adding
up to 80 A350s to its order book, as well... which may, in turn,
lead to even more A330s.

"The A330 and A340 aircraft family is the core of our fleet and
our network development. This delivery is the sign of our
long-standing partnership with Airbus which has grown from strength
to strength," said Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al
Baker.

The A330 has also benefitted from increasing interest in the
A330-derived Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft for
military use. Airbus recently won orders for the aircraft from air
forces in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, and the
aircraft is also in the running for a lucrative tanker contract for
the US Air Force.